San Jose, CA Water Quality Report
Is San Jose tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for San Jose, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is San Jose tap water safe to drink? San Jose public water systems are not reported as having detected PFAS in the most recent EPA UCMR5 testing cycle. Smaller systems may not be required to test, so private wells and older infrastructure still warrant caution.
What contaminants are in San Jose water? EPA UCMR5 tests 29 PFAS compounds plus 42+ regulated contaminants (lead, arsenic, nitrate, disinfection byproducts). The detailed table below shows every detection with comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in San Jose? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
San Jose Water Quality Summary
San Jose water systems are not currently reported as having detected PFAS in recent EPA UCMR5 testing. This does not guarantee zero contamination – monitoring is ongoing and smaller systems may not be required to test. Check your specific ZIP code for the most detailed data.
Contamination Level: NONE – No PFAS detected in recent testing.
Lead in San Jose Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 224 lead samples for San Jose water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0171 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in San Jose
San Jose public water systems have 22 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including 2987, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chlorine Residual, Gross Beta, Gross Alpha (excl. radon & uranium). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of San Jose: approximately 1,021,795.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare San Jose to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What San Jose Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually